SAMMY HAGAR (ex-VAN HALEN) spoke to Reuters/Billboard about a number of topics recently including his new album, Cosmic Universal Fashion, (out November 18 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner) and the CHICKENFOOT project which also features JOE SATRIANI, bassist pal Michael Anthony (formerly of Van Halen) and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Q: What's next for the Chickenfoot project?

Hagar: "We got in the studio and recorded eight demos in two days. The chemistry is everything in a band. The band changes one guy, sometimes the whole damn thing changes -- look what happened when I joined Van Halen. But with this band, the chemistry is awesome. It's the best chemistry I've ever experienced, better than the Montrose chemistry, better than the Van Halen chemistry. We've got nine songs recorded, we're going back in December to get a couple more songs and will hopefully have a February/March release."

Q: What's the story behind the track 'Cosmic Universal Fashion'?

Hagar: I was looking for management a few years back, and I had a meeting with Miles Copeland in Cabo. And I said to him, 'If you were my manager, what would you think I should do?' He said, 'I think you should be more political, make more statements, become a more outspoken artist.' I've never been that. Being an activist for me was 'I Can't Drive 55'. That was my rebel yell. So he got me thinking: 'I am older, more mature. How many times can I keep writing rock 'n' roll car songs?' With 'Right Now' I tried to do it in Van Halen a little bit, but I got pushback from those guys at the time. So Miles brought me this song. I based the album around the idea of, "I think I need to make some more statements."

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